Chief Rabbi of Israel hints will support prayer ban on Yom Kippur

Rabbi David Lau says he will support closure of synagogues if health officials decide 'it's the right thing to do' and if 'total' lockdown is imposed; remarks come a day after Lau told PM religious public will not obey orders as long as protests are allowed
Kobi Nachshoni|
Israel's Chief Rabbi David Lau on Wednesday hinted he will support the closure of synagogues on Yom Kippur if health officials were to decide "it's the right thing to do".
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  • The religious community in Israel has criticized any attempt to close places of worship or ban public prayers, vowing to disobey the health orders if the government shutters synagogues during the Jewish High Holidays.
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     Israel's Chief Rabbi David Lau
     Israel's Chief Rabbi David Lau
    Israel's Chief Rabbi David Lau
    (Photo: Shlomi Cohen )
    Only on Tuesday, Lau told Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu the religious public will not obey the guidelines until similar restrictions are imposed demonstrations.
    However, his latest comments indicate he will support the closure of synagogues "if medical officials decide this is the right thing to do, greatly reduces risk and saves lives".
    "The problem is that the public will not obey the rules if the closure is not total, and in other places there will be gatherings that will not be enforced," he added.
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    בנימין נתניהו
    בנימין נתניהו
    Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu
    (Photo: GPO)
    In the meantime, Netanyahu is set to push for the tightening of the newly implemented nationwide lockdown during a coronavirus cabinet meeting later on Wednesday and is even mulling declaring the state of emergency.
    The prime minister is set to demand a broader closure, immediate and significant tightening of restrictions and shuttering of additional sectors of the economy, including Ben Gurion Airport.
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